A recent study by ParticipACTION has shown it isn’t just kids who are spending too much time on screens.
In their first-ever adult report card, ParticipACTION – a non-profit group that typically ranks children’s fitness activity – gave adults in Canada over the age of 18 a ‘D’ for their overall physical activity levels.
According to ParticipACTION’s new adult report, Canadians are spending far too much time sitting and only 16% of adults are getting the recommended 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week, despite 8 in 10 Canadians agreeing that inactivity is a serious health issue.
The study shows that only 52 per cent of adults between the ages of 18-79 are meeting daily movement goals that define an active lifestyle. The organization is encouraging more moving and less sitting, even if it is for a short period of time, as sedentary behaviour and physical inactivity can lead to increased risk of chronic diseases, cognitive decline, falls and social isolation among older adults.
In the report, the data shows a large source of adult sedentary behaviour is sitting in front of screens. Canadian are spending an average of nearly 4 hours per day in a seated or reclined position in front of a screen.
As a result of the study, ParticipACTION said that with the proportion of older adults (65+) in Canada growing faster than ever before, the toll of physical inactivity will be felt in our daily lives, our healthcare system, our communities and the economy.
“We can’t stop aging, but we can age better,” the organization suggests.
The full report can be found as a PDF on the ParticipACTION website.
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